Build Your Own MC68HC11 Computer Trainer

Geoffrey C. Yerem

Department of Electrical Engineering

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

1 Introduction

The electronic computer has been called the most complex machine built by man, and anyone fascinated by technology recognizes the computer as the ultimate machine. Infinitely configurable through programming, the computer is a machine that is malleable as clay is to a skilled sculptor. If you love computers, you probably want to become a skilled computer sculptor. Becoming a skilled programmer provides half of the skills you need. Completing your skills means understanding computer hardware, at the heart of which is the microprocessor. If learning about computer hardware is your goal, then read on. This paper is going to show you how to build your own practical, working computer from scratch.

This document will show you how to build your own computer trainer based on the Motorola MC68HC11 microprocessor. The design used here is similar to many of the commercially available MC68HC11 single board computers, particularly the Motorola M68HC11 Evaluation Board (EVB). You will learn a great deal by building this project and, in the end, you will have a working EVB of your very own that you can program and customize.

This document contains six sections:

Section 1 - Introduction

Section 2 - The Structure of a Small Computer System

Section 3 - Building the Computer

Section 4 - Testing the Computer

Section 5 - Using the Computer

Section 6 - Conclusion

The instructions in the rest of this document assume that you have had little or no exposure to microprocessor electronics. You should, though, have some computer programming experience, particularly with assembly language. Also, you should have some experience with digital electronics as well as some experience with basic electronic assembly. Barring no problems, you can construct this project in about one full week. Good luck, you are on your way to building your first, but probably not your last, computer.

Copyright © 1999 by Geoffrey C. Yerem, First Printing